Method and apparatus for providing user plane or control plane position services

ABSTRACT

A dual SIM mobile terminal, such as a Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA) mobile terminal, connects to a network and performs a user plane or control plane positioning session through the network. When the positioning session is originated by the mobile terminal, either SIM card may be used to connect to its associated network. When the positioning session is originated by another entity in the network, either SIM card may be used for the positioning session. When the mobile terminal connects to a network for an emergency call using either SIM card and an emergency positioning session is performed through the network, the emergency positioning session is permitted only during the emergency call and an emergency callback period and permitted only on a subscription on which the emergency call originated, and no non-emergency positioning sessions with either SIM card is permitted during the emergency positioning session or emergency call.

BACKGROUND

1. Background Field

Embodiments of the subject matter described herein are related generallyto a mobile terminal that uses dual Subscriber Identity Module (SIM)cards, and more particularly to originating or receiving a positioningsession on either SIM card with the dual SIM mobile terminal as well asperforming emergency positioning sessions.

2. Relevant Background

A dual SIM mobile terminal is capable of holding multiple, e.g., two ormore, Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards. In some dual SIM mobileterminals, both SIM cards may be active simultaneously allowing the userto access two different subscriptions for different networks. By way ofexample, a Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA) mobile terminal includes two SIMcards and is capable of being connected to two different networks at thesame time.

It is often desirable, and sometimes necessary, to know the location ofa mobile terminal. The terms “location” and “position” are synonymousand are used interchangeably herein. For example, an application on themobile terminal may desire to know its location and may accordingly themobile terminal initiate a user plane or control plane positioningsession, which is sometimes referred to as a mobile originatedpositioning session. Additionally, a different entity, e.g., a locationservices (LCS) client, on the network side may desire to know thelocation of the mobile terminal, and accordingly, the user plane orcontrol plane positioning session may be initiated by a networkconnected to the mobile terminal, which is sometimes referred to as amobile terminated positioning session.

SUMMARY

A dual SIM mobile terminal, such as a Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA) mobileterminal, connects to a network and performs a user plane or controlplane positioning session through the network. When the positioningsession is originated by the mobile terminal, either SIM card may beused to connect to its associated network. For example, the initial SIMcard used to attempt to initiate the positioning session may be adefault SIM card or may be selected, e.g., by a user or application. Themobile terminal may switch to the other SIM card for the positioningsession, e.g., if the network associated with the initial SIM cardunavailable, weak, busy, or unresponsive, or if a data transfer limit ora limit on a total number of simultaneous data sessions has beenreached. When the positioning session is originated by another entity inthe network, either SIM card may be used for the positioning session. Asthe subscriptions associated with the SIM cards may have different rulesof service interactions, the mobile terminal follows the rules ofservice interactions of the subscription associated with the SIM cardused for the positioning session. When the mobile terminal connects to anetwork for an emergency call using either SIM card and an emergencypositioning session is performed through the network, the emergencypositioning session is permitted only during the emergency call and anemergency callback period after the emergency call and permitted only ona subscription on which the emergency call is originated, and nonon-emergency positioning sessions with either SIM card is permittedduring the emergency positioning session or during an emergency call andthe emergency callback period after an emergency call.

In one implementation, a method of providing user plane or control planepositioning services in a dual Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) mobileterminal, includes connecting the dual SIM mobile terminal to a network,wherein the network is one of a first network associated with a firstsubscription accessed with a first SIM card in the dual SIM mobileterminal and a second network associated with a second subscriptionaccessed with a second SIM card in the dual SIM mobile terminal; andperforming a user plane or control plane positioning session through thenetwork; wherein when the user plane or control plane positioningsession is initiated by the dual SIM mobile terminal, either the firstsubscription associated with the first SIM card or the secondsubscription associated with the second SIM card is used for the userplane or control plane positioning session; wherein when the user planeor control plane positioning session is initiated by the network, eitherthe first subscription associated with the first SIM card or the secondsubscription associated with the second SIM card is used for the userplane or control plane positioning session.

In one implementation, a mobile terminal includes a first SubscriberIdentity Module (SIM) card that accesses a first subscription associatedwith a first network; a second SIM card that accesses a secondsubscription associated with a second network; a transceiver thatcommunicates with the first network and the second network; a processorconnected to the transceiver, the processor configured to use thetransceiver to connect to a network, and perform a user plane or controlplane positioning session through the network, wherein when the userplane or control plane positioning session is initiated by the mobileterminal, either the first subscription associated with the first SIMcard or the second subscription associated with the second SIM card isused for the user plane or control plane positioning session; whereinwhen the user plane or control plane positioning session is initiated bythe network, either the first subscription associated with the first SIMcard or the second subscription associated with the second SIM card isused for the user plane or control plane positioning session.

In one implementation, a dual Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) mobileterminal includes means for connecting to a network, wherein the networkis one of a first network associated with a first subscription accessedwith a first SIM card and a second network associated with a secondsubscription accessed with a second SIM card; and means for performing auser plane or control plane positioning session through the network;wherein when the user plane or control plane positioning session isinitiated by the dual SIM mobile terminal, either the first subscriptionassociated with the first SIM card or the second subscription associatedwith the second SIM card is used for the user plane or control planepositioning session; wherein when the user plane or control planepositioning session is initiated by the network, either the firstsubscription associated with the first SIM card or the secondsubscription associated with the second SIM card is used for the userplane or control plane positioning session.

In one implementation, a non-transitory computer-readable mediumincluding program code stored thereon, includes program code to connecta dual SIM mobile terminal to a network, wherein the network is one of afirst network associated with a first subscription accessed with a firstSIM card in the dual SIM mobile terminal and a second network associatedwith a second subscription accessed with a second SIM card in the dualSIM mobile terminal; and program code to perform a user plane or controlplane positioning session through the network; wherein when the userplane or control plane positioning session is initiated by the dual SIMmobile terminal, either the first subscription associated with the firstSIM card or the second subscription associated with the second SIM cardis used for the user plane or control plane positioning session; whereinwhen the user plane or control plane positioning session is initiated bythe network, either the first subscription associated with the first SIMcard or the second subscription associated with the second SIM card isused for the user plane or control plane positioning session.

In one implementation, a method of supporting an emergency positioningsession in a dual Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) mobile terminal,includes connecting the dual SIM mobile terminal to a network for anemergency call, wherein the network is one of a first network associatedwith a first subscription accessed with a first SIM card in the dual SIMmobile terminal and a second network associated with a secondsubscription accessed with a second SIM card in the dual SIM mobileterminal; and performing an emergency positioning session through thenetwork; wherein the emergency positioning session is permitted onlyduring the emergency call and an emergency callback period after theemergency call; wherein the emergency positioning session is permittedonly on a subscription on which the emergency call is originated;wherein no non-emergency positioning sessions on either the firstsubscription or the second subscription are permitted during theemergency positioning session or during the emergency call.

In one implementation, a mobile terminal includes a first SubscriberIdentity Module (SIM) card that accesses a first subscription associatedwith a first network; a second SIM card that accesses a secondsubscription associated with a second network; a transceiver thatcommunicates with the first network and the second network; a processorconnected to the transceiver, the processor configured to use thetransceiver to connect to a network for an emergency call, wherein thenetwork is one of the first network associated with the firstsubscription accessed with the first SIM card and the second networkassociated with the second subscription accessed with the second SIMcard; and perform an emergency positioning session through the network,wherein the emergency positioning session is permitted only during theemergency call and an emergency callback period after the emergencycall, wherein the emergency positioning session is permitted only on asubscription on which the emergency call is originated, and wherein nonon-emergency positioning sessions on either the first subscription orthe second subscription are permitted during the emergency positioningsession or during the emergency call.

In one implementation, a dual Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) mobileterminal includes means for connecting the dual SIM mobile terminal to anetwork for an emergency call, wherein the network is one of a firstnetwork associated with a first subscription accessed with a first SIMcard in the dual SIM mobile terminal and a second network associatedwith a second subscription accessed with a second SIM card in the dualSIM mobile terminal; and means for performing an emergency positioningsession through the network; wherein the emergency positioning sessionis permitted only during the emergency call and an emergency callbackperiod after the emergency call; wherein the emergency positioningsession is permitted only on a subscription on which the emergency callis originated; wherein no non-emergency positioning sessions on eitherthe first subscription or the second subscription are permitted duringthe emergency positioning session or during the emergency call.

In one implementation, a non-transitory computer-readable mediumincluding program code stored thereon, includes program code to connecta dual SIM mobile terminal to a network for an emergency call, whereinthe network is one of a first network associated with a firstsubscription accessed with a first SIM card in the dual SIM mobileterminal and a second network associated with a second subscriptionaccessed with a second SIM card in the dual SIM mobile terminal; andprogram code to perform an emergency positioning session through thenetwork; wherein the emergency positioning session is permitted onlyduring the emergency call and an emergency callback period after theemergency call; wherein the emergency positioning session is permittedonly on a subscription on which the emergency call is originated;wherein no non-emergency positioning sessions on either the firstsubscription or the second subscription are permitted during theemergency positioning session or during the emergency call.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a network architecture that may be used with a dual SIMmobile terminal configured for originating or receiving a positioningsession on either SIM card.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method of providing user plane or controlplane positioning sessions with a dual SIM mobile terminal.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic block diagram illustrating certainexample features of a dual SIM mobile terminal configured fororiginating or receiving a positioning session on either SIM card.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a method of supporting an emergencypositioning session in a dual SIM mobile terminal.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic block diagram illustrating certainexample features of a dual SIM mobile terminal configured for anemergency positioning session.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 shows a network architecture 100 that may be used with a dual SIMmobile terminal 120, with a first SIM card 122 and a second SIM card 124illustrated, and that is configured for originating or receiving apositioning session on either SIM card. A dual SIM mobile terminal asused herein is a device having at least two SIM cards and being capableof wirelessly communicating with a server through two or more networksassociated with subscriptions respectively accessed by the SIM cards.The mobile terminal 120 supports positioning and location services,which may include, but is not limited to, the Secure User Plane Location(SUPL) location solution defined by OMA and the Control Plane locationsolution defined by 3GPP and 3GPP2. The SUPL location solution isdefined in documents OMA-TS-ULP from OMA which are publicly available.The control plane location solution are defined in 3GPP2 C.S0022, 3GPPTS 23.271, 3GPP TS 25.305, 3GPP TS 36.305, 3GPP TS 44.031, 3GPP TS25.331 and 3GPP TS 36.355 which are publicly available.

The mobile terminal 120 may be a device such as a cellular or otherwireless communication device, personal communication system (PCS)device, personal navigation device (PND), Personal Information Manager(PIM), Personal Digital Assistant (PDA), laptop or other suitable mobileterminal which is capable of receiving wireless communication and/ornavigation signals. Additionally, the mobile terminal 120 may includedevices which communicate with a personal navigation device (PND), suchas by short-range wireless, infrared, wireline connection, or otherconnection—regardless of whether satellite signal reception, assistancedata reception, and/or position-related processing occurs at the deviceor at the PND. Server 150 and server 151 as used herein may be a SUPLLocation Platform (SLP), an evolved Serving Mobile Location Center(eSMLC), a Serving Mobile Location Center (SMLC), a Gateway MobileLocation Center (GMLC), a Position Determining Entity (PDE), aStandalone SMLC (SAS), and/or the like.

Location services (LCS) may be performed on behalf of an LCS Client 160that accesses location server 150, both of which are associated withnetwork 130, or on behalf of an LCS Client 161 that accesses locationserver 151, both of which are associated with network 131. A request forthe location of mobile terminal 120 is issued through the associatednetwork 130 or 131 and the requested LCS Client 160 or 161 receives backfrom its respective location server 150 or 151 a location estimate formobile terminal 120. LCS Client 160 and LCS Client 161 may also be knownas a SUPL Agent—e.g. when the location protocol used by respectivelocation server 150 and location server 151 and mobile terminal 120 isSUPL. Mobile terminal 120 may also include an LCS Client 162 (or SUPLagent in case that SUPL is used) that may issue a location request tosome positioning capable function within mobile terminal 120 and laterreceive back a location estimate for mobile terminal 120. The LCS Client162 (or SUPL Agent) within mobile terminal 120 may perform locationservices for the user of mobile terminal 120—e.g. provide navigationdirections or identify points of interest within the vicinity of mobileterminal 120.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the mobile terminal 120 may communicate with aserver 150 through a first network 130 or with server 151 through asecond network 131. Mobile terminal 120 may communicate through thefirst network 130 using a first Radio Access Network (RAN) 140 that isassociated with the first network 130 and that is associated with thesubscription accessed by the first SIM card 122. Mobile terminal 120 maycommunicate through the second network 131 using a second Radio AccessNetwork (RAN) 141, which is associated with the second network 131, andwhich is associated with the subscription accessed by the second SIMcard 124.

Mobile terminal 120 may receive and measure signals from the RANs 140and 141, which may be used for position determination. Wirelesscommunication networks RANs 140 and 141 may be wireless wide areanetworks (WWAN), wireless local area networks (WLAN), a wirelesspersonal area networks (WPAN), and so on. The term “network” and“system” are often used interchangeably. A WWAN may be a Code DivisionMultiple Access (CDMA) network, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA)network, a Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) network, anOrthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) network, aSingle-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) network,Long Term Evolution (LTE), WiMax and so on. A CDMA network may implementone or more radio access technologies (RATs) such as cdma2000,Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA), and so on. Cdma2000 includes IS-95, IS-2000, andIS-856 standards. A TDMA network may implement Global System for MobileCommunications (GSM), Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System (D-AMPS), orsome other RAT. GSM, W-CDMA, and LTE are described in documents from3GPP. Cdma2000 is described in documents from a consortium named “3rdGeneration Partnership Project 2” (3GPP2). 3GPP and 3GPP2 documents arepublicly available. A WLAN may be an IEEE 802.11x network, and a WPANmay be a Bluetooth network, an IEEE 802.15x, or some other type ofnetwork. The techniques may also be implemented in conjunction with anycombination of WWAN, WLAN and/or WPAN. For example, RAN1 140 may be,e.g., an evolved UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) (LTE)network, a W-CDMA UTRAN network, a GSM/EDGE Radio Access Network(GERAN), a 1xRTT network, an Evolution-Data Optimized (EvDO) network, aWiMax network or a WLAN, while RAN2 141 may be one of the above networksthat is different than RAN1 140.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, mobile terminal 120 may also receive signalsfrom one or more Earth orbiting satellite vehicles (SVs) 180, which arepart of satellite positioning system (SPS). The SVs, for example, may bein a constellation of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) such asGlobal Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, GLONASS or Compass. Inaccordance with certain aspects, the techniques presented herein are notrestricted to global systems (e.g., GNSS) for SPS. For example, thetechniques provided herein may be applied to or otherwise enabled foruse in various regional systems, such as, e.g., Quasi-Zenith SatelliteSystem (QZSS) over Japan, Indian Regional Navigational Satellite System(IRNSS) over India, Beidou or Compass over China, etc., and/or variousaugmentation systems (e.g., an Satellite Based Augmentation System(SBAS)) that may be associated with or otherwise enabled for use withone or more global and/or regional navigation satellite systems. By wayof example but not limitation, an SBAS may include an augmentationsystem(s) that provides integrity information, differential corrections,etc., such as, e.g., Wide Area Augmentation System (WAAS), EuropeanGeostationary Navigation Overlay Service (EGNOS), Multi-functionalSatellite Augmentation System (MSAS), GPS Aided Geo Augmented Navigationor GPS and Geo Augmented Navigation system (GAGAN), and/or the like.Thus, as used herein an SPS may include any combination of one or moreglobal and/or regional navigation satellite systems and/or augmentationsystems, and SPS signals may include SPS, SPS-like, and/or other signalsassociated with such one or more SPS.

Mobile terminal 120 may measure signals from SVs 180 and/or RANs 140,141 associated with the first and second networks 130 and 131 and mayobtain pseudo-range measurements for the satellites and networkmeasurements from RANs 140, 141. The pseudo-range measurements and/ornetwork measurements may be used to derive a position estimate formobile terminal 120. The server 150 or server 151 may be used to providelocation related information, such as assistance data, to the mobileterminal 120, which may be used to assist in acquiring and measuringsignals from SVs 180 (e.g., in an assisted satellite positioningsession) and RANs 140, 141 and/or in deriving a position estimate fromthese measurements. Additionally, mobile terminal 120 may providelocation related information, such as an estimated position or locationmeasurements (e.g., satellite measurements from one or more GNSSs, ornetwork measurements from one or more networks, etc.), to the server 150or server 151.

In operation, the mobile terminal 120 may permit mobile originated (MO)positioning sessions using either the first network 130 or the secondnetwork 131, i.e., either subscription accessed with either SIM cards122 or 124 may be used. The mobile terminal may attempt to initiate theMO positioning session using an initial SIM card, e.g., a default or aselected SIM card, and may switch to a secondary SIM card under specificpredetermined conditions, e.g., the network associated with the initialSIM card is not available, has a weak signal, is busy, or the mobileterminal has reached a data limit or a limit on simultaneous datasessions on the initial SIM card. By way of example, the firstsubscription accessed by the first SIM card 122 may be a defaultsubscription for the mobile terminal 120, and MO positioning sessionsare initiated using the default subscription, i.e., the subscriptionassociated with the first SIM card 122. If desired, the defaultsubscription may be default for both data and voice or default for onlydata. Alternatively, if a default subscription is not used, or has notbeen assigned, the mobile terminal 120 may query the user with which SIMcard 122 or 124 (i.e., which subscription) the user would like tooriginate the MO session. Additionally, the mobile terminal applicationthat is requesting the positioning session may be associated with aspecific SIM card, and thus, the mobile terminal application may selecta SIM card to originate the MO positioning session, where the selectedSIM card may be a non-default SIM card. If the network associated withthe initial subscription is, e.g., unavailable, weak, busy, orunresponsive, or the mobile terminal 120 has reached a limit on theinitial subscription (e.g., a data transfer limit or a limit on totalnumber of simultaneous data sessions), etc., the mobile terminal 120 mayswitch to the second SIM card 124 and initiate the MO positioningsession with the second subscription, i.e., the subscription associatedwith the non-default or unselected SIM card 124.

Additionally, the mobile terminal 120 may permit mobile terminated (MT)positioning sessions, e.g., positioning sessions that are initiatedthrough the network 130 by LCS Client 160 or through the network 131 byLCS Client 161. Thus, either the subscription accessed with SIM card 122or the subscription accessed with SIM card 124 may be used for thepositioning session. For example, the SIM card associated with thenetwork through which the request for a positioning session was receivedmay be used for the positioning session.

The first subscription and the second subscription may have differentrules of service interactions for positioning sessions. For example, thesubscription accessed by the first SIM card 122 may grant the new mobileoriginated or mobile terminated positioning request and terminate anongoing positioning session to make resources available for the newrequest; whereas the subscription accessed by the second SIM card 124may maintain the ongoing positioning session and reject the newpositioning request. Accordingly, the mobile terminal 120 may follow therules of service interactions of the subscription hosting the existingactive positioning session, for both MO and MT positioning sessions.Following the rule of service interactions of the subscription that ishosting an existing positioning session offers the advantage that fairtreatment is given to both subscriptions.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart of a method of providing user plane or controlplane positioning services in a dual SIM mobile terminal, such as mobileterminal 120, which may be, e.g., a Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA) mobileterminal. As illustrated, the method includes connecting the dual SIMmobile terminal to a network, wherein the network is one of a firstnetwork associated with a first subscription accessed with a first SIMcard in the dual SIM mobile terminal and a second network associatedwith a second subscription accessed with a second SIM card in the dualSIM mobile terminal (202). When a user plane or control planepositioning session is initiated by the dual SIM mobile terminal, eitherthe first subscription associated with the first SIM card or the secondsubscription associated with the second SIM card is used for the userplane or control plane positioning session (204). For example,performing the user plane or control plane positioning session throughthe network may comprise attempting to initiate the user plane orcontrol plane positioning session with the dual SIM mobile terminalusing the first subscription and switching to use the secondsubscription to initiate the user plane or control plane positioningsession with the dual SIM mobile terminal. The first subscription maybe, e.g., a default subscription or a selected subscription for the userplane or control plane positioning session. By way of example, thesubscription may be selected by the user or by the mobile terminalapplication that requests the positioning session. The secondsubscription may be used to initiate the user plane or control planepositioning session when the first network associated with the firstsubscription is one of unavailable, weak, busy, or unresponsive.Additionally, the second subscription may be used to initiate the userplane or control plane positioning session when the first subscriptionhas reached a data transfer limit or a limit on a total number ofsimultaneous data sessions. Moreover, when a user plane or control planepositioning session is initiated by the network, either the firstsubscription associated with the first SIM card or the secondsubscription associated with the second SIM card is used for the userplane or control plane positioning session (206). A positioning session,which is a user plane or control plane positioning session, is performedthrough the network (208). For example, the user plane or control planepositioning session performed through the network may be, e.g., anassisted satellite positioning session that uses the network.

If the first subscription and the second subscription have differentrules of service interactions, the performing the user plane or controlplane positioning session through the network (208) includes followingthe rules of service interactions of the first subscription when theuser plane or control plane positioning session is through the firstsubscription and following the rules of service interactions of thesecond subscription when the user plane or control plane positioningsession is through the second subscription.

FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic block diagram illustrating certainexample features of a dual SIM mobile terminal, such as mobile terminal120, which may be, e.g., a Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA) mobile terminalconfigured for originating or receiving a positioning session on eitherSIM card as discussed above. Mobile terminal 120 may, for example,includes a first SIM card 122 that accesses a first subscriptionassociated with a first network and a second SIM card 124 that accessesa second subscription associated with a second network. The mobileterminal 120 may further include one or more processing units 302,memory 304, a transceiver 310 (e.g., wireless network interface), and(as applicable) an SPS receiver 340, all of which may be operativelycoupled with one or more connections 306 (e.g., buses, lines, fibers,links, etc.). In certain example implementations, all or part of mobileterminal 120 may take the form of a chipset, and/or the like.

Transceiver 310 may, for example, include a transmitter 312 enabled totransmit one or more signals over one or more types of wirelesscommunication networks and a receiver 314 to receive one or more signalstransmitted over the one or more types of wireless communicationnetworks, e.g., wireless network 130 via RAN 140 and wireless network131 via RAN 141 in FIG. 1. If desired, transceiver 310 may include twotransmitters and two receivers to transmit and receive signals to andfrom different networks.

The SPS receiver 340 may be enabled to receive signals associated withone or more SPS resources, e.g., satellite vehicles (SVs) 180 in FIG. 1.

Processing unit 302 may be implemented using a combination of hardware,firmware, and software. The processing unit 302 may represent one ormore circuits configurable to perform at least a portion of a datasignal computing procedure or process related to the operation of mobileterminal 120. The processing unit 302 may include a SIM selection module316 to select either of the SIM cards 122 or 124 and, thus, thecorrespondingly associated subscriptions for a user plane or controlplane positioning session initiated by the mobile terminal 120. If theuser plane or control plane positioning session is initiated by thenetwork, the SIM selection module 316 selects, e.g., the SIM card 122 or124 that is associated with the subscription and network through whichthe request for a positioning session was received. The SIM selectionmodule 316 may further include an initiation module 318 that initiatesthe user plane or control plane positioning session using a firstsubscription associated with a first SIM card, which may be a default ora user/application selected SIM (or subscription). A switching module319 switches to a second subscription associated with the second SIMcard, i.e., the non-default or non-selected SIM card, to initiate theuser plane or control plane positioning session, e.g., if the firstnetwork associated with the first subscription is unavailable, weak,busy, or unresponsive or if the first subscription has reached a datatransfer limit or a limit on a total number of simultaneous datasessions. The processing unit 302 may include a positioning module 322to perform a user plane or control plane positioning session through thenetwork, which may also use SPS signals received through the SPSreceiver 340. Additionally, the processing unit 302 may include a rulesof service interactions module 324 to follow the rules of serviceinteractions of the subscription used in the user plane or control planepositioning session, e.g., wherein the first subscription and the secondsubscription have different rules of service interactions. The variousmodules 316, 318, 319, 322, and 324 may be implemented in hardware,firmware, and software or a combination thereof.

The methodologies described herein in flow charts and message flows maybe implemented by various means depending upon the application. Forexample, these methodologies may be implemented in hardware, firmware,software, or any combination thereof. For a hardware implementation, theprocessing unit 302 may be implemented within one or more applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs),digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices(PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers,micro-controllers, microprocessors, electronic devices, other electronicunits designed to perform the functions described herein, or acombination thereof.

For a firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies may beimplemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein. Any machine-readable mediumtangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing themethodologies described herein. For example, software codes may bestored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium 320 or memory 304that is connected to and executed by processing unit 302. Memory may beimplemented within the processing unit or external to the processingunit. As used herein the term “memory” refers to any type of long term,short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or other memory and is not to belimited to any particular type of memory or number of memories, or typeof media upon which memory is stored.

If implemented in firmware and/or software, the functions may be storedas one or more instructions 308 or code on a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium, such as computer-readable medium 320 and/ormemory 304. Examples include computer-readable media encoded with a datastructure and computer-readable media encoded with a computer program.Non-transitory computer-readable media includes physical computerstorage media. A storage medium may be any available non-transitorymedium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such non-transitory computer-readable media can compriseRAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that canbe used to store desired program code in the form of instructions ordata structures and that can be accessed by a computer; disk and disc,as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc,digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disksusually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce dataoptically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be includedwithin the scope of computer-readable media.

In addition to storage on computer readable medium, instructions and/ordata may be provided as signals on transmission media included in acommunication apparatus. For example, a communication apparatus mayinclude a transceiver having signals indicative of instructions anddata. The instructions and data are configured to cause one or moreprocessors to implement the functions outlined in the claims. That is,the communication apparatus includes transmission media with signalsindicative of information to perform disclosed functions.

Memory 304 may represent any data storage mechanism. Memory 304 mayinclude, for example, a primary memory and/or a secondary memory.Primary memory may include, for example, a random access memory, readonly memory, etc. While illustrated in this example as being separatefrom processing unit 302, it should be understood that all or part of aprimary memory may be provided within or otherwise co-located/coupledwith processing unit 302. Secondary memory may include, for example, thesame or similar type of memory as primary memory and/or one or more datastorage devices or systems, such as, for example, a disk drive, anoptical disc drive, a tape drive, a solid state memory drive, etc.

In certain implementations, secondary memory may be operativelyreceptive of, or otherwise configurable to couple to a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium 320. As such, in certain exampleimplementations, the methods and/or apparatuses presented herein maytake the form in whole or part of a computer-readable medium 320 thatmay include computer implementable instructions 308 stored thereon,which if executed by at least one processing unit 302 may be operativelyenabled to perform all or portions of the example operations asdescribed herein. Computer readable medium 320 may be a part of memory304.

Thus, the mobile terminal 120 may include means for connecting to anetwork, wherein the network is one of a first network associated with afirst subscription accessed with a first SIM card and a second networkassociated with a second subscription accessed with a second SIM card,wherein the means for connecting to a network may be, e.g., thetransceiver 310 and may further include the SIM selection module 316. Ifthe user plane or control plane positioning session is initiated by thenetwork, the mobile terminal 120 may include means for selecting the SIMcard 122 or 124 that is associated with the subscription and networkthrough which the request for a positioning session was received, suchas the SIM selection module 316. The mobile terminal 120 may furtherinclude means for attempting to initiate the user plane or control planepositioning session with the dual SIM mobile terminal using the firstsubscription, such as the SIM selection module 316 and the initiationmodule 318, and a means for switching to use the second subscription toinitiate the user plane or control plane positioning session with thedual SIM mobile terminal, which may be, e.g., the SIM selection module316 and the switching module 319. A means for performing a user plane orcontrol plane positioning session through the network may be, e.g., thepositioning module 322. The mobile terminal 120 may further includemeans for following the rules of service interactions of the firstsubscription when the user plane or control plane positioning session isthrough the first subscription and following the rules of serviceinteractions of the second subscription when the user plane or controlplane positioning session is through the second subscription, which maybe, e.g., the rules of service interactions 324.

The dual SIM mobile terminal 120 may be used for emergency positioningsessions, e.g., a positioning session that is initiated in response toan emergency call. The mobile terminal 120 may permit the emergencypositioning session only during an emergency call and the emergencycallback period after an emergency call, and permit the emergencypositioning session only on a subscription on which the emergency callis originated. Thus, the user position is given to the PSAP (PublicSafety Answering Point) handling the call and the risk of user positiongiven to a rogue server is reduced. Further, no non-emergencypositioning sessions on either the first subscription or the secondsubscription may be permitted during the emergency positioning sessionand/or during the emergency call. Non-emergency positioning sessions maynot be permitted on either the first subscription or the secondsubscription during the emergency callback period after an emergencycall. Additionally, the mobile terminal 120 may stop an existingnon-emergency positioning session when the emergency call is made. Thus,the emergency positioning session is given the highest priority and thechance of a successful emergency positioning session is improved.

FIG. 4 illustrates a flow chart of a method of supporting an emergencypositioning session in a dual SIM mobile terminal. The method includesconnecting the dual SIM mobile terminal to a network for an emergencycall, wherein the network is one of a first network associated with afirst subscription accessed with a first SIM card in the dual SIM mobileterminal and a second network associated with a second subscriptionaccessed with a second SIM card in the dual SIM mobile terminal (452).The mobile terminal may be connected to network for an emergency call,e.g., using a default or selected SIM card. As illustrated, theemergency positioning session is permitted only during an emergency calland the emergency callback period after an emergency call (454). Theemergency positioning session is permitted only on a subscription onwhich the emergency call is originated (456). An emergency positioningsession is performed through the network (458). Additionally, nonon-emergency positioning sessions on either the first subscription orthe second subscription are permitted during the emergency positioningsession or the emergency call (460). Additionally, the method mayinclude not permitting non-emergency positioning sessions on either thefirst subscription or the second subscription during the emergencycallback period after an emergency call.

FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic block diagram illustrating certainexample features of a dual SIM mobile terminal, such as mobile terminal520, which may be, e.g., a Dual SIM Dual Active (DSDA) mobile terminal,configured for an emergency positioning session as discussed above. Themobile terminal 520 of FIG. 5 is similar to mobile terminal 120discussed in reference to FIG. 3, like named elements being the same. Asillustrated, mobile terminal 520 may include one or more processingunits 502, which may be similar to processing unit 302 discussed inreference to FIG. 3, and which may optionally include the variousmodules 316, 318, 319, 322, and 324 discussed above.

Processing unit 502 may be implemented using a combination of hardware,firmware, and software. The processing unit 502 may represent one ormore circuits configurable to perform at least a portion of a datasignal computing procedure or process related to the operation of mobileterminal 520. The processing unit 502 may include an emergency callmodule 526, which is used to determine when the mobile terminal 520connects to a network for an emergency call. The processing unit 502 mayfurther include an emergency positioning module 528 to perform anemergency positioning session through the network. As discussed above,the emergency positioning module 528 may be used to permit an emergencypositioning session only during an emergency call and the emergencycallback period after an emergency call, initiates the emergencypositioning session using the subscription on which the emergency callis originated, and ensures that no non-emergency positioning sessionsare permitted on either the first subscription or the secondsubscription during the emergency positioning session or during anemergency call, or during an emergency callback period after anemergency call. The emergency positioning session 528 may also be usedto stop any existing non-emergency positioning sessions when anemergency call is made. The emergency call module 526 and emergencypositioning session module 528 may be implemented in hardware, firmware,and software or a combination thereof.

The methodologies described herein in flow charts and message flows maybe implemented by various means depending upon the application. Forexample, these methodologies may be implemented in hardware, firmware,software, or any combination thereof. For a hardware implementation, theprocessing unit 502 may be implemented within one or more applicationspecific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs),digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices(PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers,micro-controllers, microprocessors, electronic devices, other electronicunits designed to perform the functions described herein, or acombination thereof.

For a firmware and/or software implementation, the methodologies may beimplemented with modules (e.g., procedures, functions, and so on) thatperform the functions described herein. Any machine-readable mediumtangibly embodying instructions may be used in implementing themethodologies described herein. For example, software codes may bestored in a non-transitory computer-readable medium 520 or memory 504that is connected to and executed by processing unit 502. Memory may beimplemented within the processing unit or external to the processingunit. As used herein the term “memory” refers to any type of long term,short term, volatile, nonvolatile, or other memory and is not to belimited to any particular type of memory or number of memories, or typeof media upon which memory is stored.

If implemented in firmware and/or software, the functions may be storedas one or more instructions 508 or code on a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium, such as computer-readable medium 520 and/ormemory 504. Examples include computer-readable media encoded with a datastructure and computer-readable media encoded with a computer program.Non-transitory computer-readable media includes physical computerstorage media. A storage medium may be any available non-transitorymedium that can be accessed by a computer. By way of example, and notlimitation, such non-transitory computer-readable media can compriseRAM, ROM, EEPROM, CD-ROM or other optical disk storage, magnetic diskstorage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium that canbe used to store desired program code in the form of instructions ordata structures and that can be accessed by a computer; disk and disc,as used herein, includes compact disc (CD), laser disc, optical disc,digital versatile disc (DVD), floppy disk and blu-ray disc where disksusually reproduce data magnetically, while discs reproduce dataoptically with lasers. Combinations of the above should also be includedwithin the scope of computer-readable media.

In addition to storage on computer readable medium, instructions and/ordata may be provided as signals on transmission media included in acommunication apparatus. For example, a communication apparatus mayinclude a transceiver having signals indicative of instructions anddata. The instructions and data are configured to cause one or moreprocessors to implement the functions outlined in the claims. That is,the communication apparatus includes transmission media with signalsindicative of information to perform disclosed functions.

Memory 504 may represent any data storage mechanism. Memory 504 mayinclude, for example, a primary memory and/or a secondary memory.Primary memory may include, for example, a random access memory, readonly memory, etc. While illustrated in this example as being separatefrom processing unit 502, it should be understood that all or part of aprimary memory may be provided within or otherwise co-located/coupledwith processing unit 502. Secondary memory may include, for example, thesame or similar type of memory as primary memory and/or one or more datastorage devices or systems, such as, for example, a disk drive, anoptical disc drive, a tape drive, a solid state memory drive, etc.

In certain implementations, secondary memory may be operativelyreceptive of, or otherwise configurable to couple to a non-transitorycomputer-readable medium 520. As such, in certain exampleimplementations, the methods and/or apparatuses presented herein maytake the form in whole or part of a computer-readable medium 520 thatmay include computer implementable instructions 508 stored thereon,which if executed by at least one processing unit 502 may be operativelyenabled to perform all or portions of the example operations asdescribed herein. Computer readable medium 520 may be a part of memory504.

Thus, the mobile terminal 520 may include means for connecting the dualSIM mobile terminal to a network for an emergency call, wherein thenetwork is one of a first network associated with a first subscriptionaccessed with a first SIM card in the dual SIM mobile terminal and asecond network associated with a second subscription accessed with asecond SIM card in the dual SIM mobile terminal, which may be, e.g., thetransceiver 510 and may further include the emergency call module 526. Ameans for performing an emergency positioning session through thenetwork may be, e.g., the emergency positioning session module 528,wherein the emergency positioning session is permitted only during anemergency call and the emergency callback period after an emergencycall; wherein the emergency positioning session is permitted only on asubscription on which the emergency call is originated; wherein nonon-emergency positioning sessions on either the first subscription orthe second subscription are permitted during the emergency positioningsession or during the emergency call. The means for performing anemergency positioning session through the network, e.g., the emergencypositioning session module 528, may further not permit non-emergencypositioning sessions on either the first subscription or the secondsubscription during an emergency callback period after the emergencycall.

Although the present invention is illustrated in connection withspecific embodiments for instructional purposes, the present inventionis not limited thereto. Various adaptations and modifications may bemade without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, thespirit and scope of the appended claims should not be limited to theforegoing description.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of providing user plane or control planepositioning services in a dual Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) mobileterminal, the method comprising: connecting the dual SIM mobile terminalto a network, wherein the network is one of a first network associatedwith a first subscription accessed with a first SIM card in the dual SIMmobile terminal or a second network associated with a secondsubscription accessed with a second SIM card in the dual SIM mobileterminal, wherein the first subscription is one of a defaultsubscription or a selected subscription for a user plane or controlplane positioning session; and performing the user plane or controlplane positioning session through the network; wherein when the userplane or control plane positioning session is initiated by the dual SIMmobile terminal, either the first subscription associated with the firstSIM card or the second subscription associated with the second SIM cardis used for the user plane or control plane positioning session; whereinperforming the user plane or control plane positioning session throughthe network comprises: attempting to initiate the user plane or controlplane positioning session with the dual SIM mobile terminal using thefirst subscription; and switching to use the second subscription toinitiate the user plane or control plane positioning session with thedual SIM mobile terminal; and wherein when the user plane or controlplane positioning session is initiated by the network, either the firstsubscription associated with the first SIM card or the secondsubscription associated with the second SIM card is used for the userplane or control plane positioning session.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein the second subscription is used to initiate the user plane orcontrol plane positioning session when the first network associated withthe first subscription is one of unavailable, weak, busy, orunresponsive.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second subscriptionis used to initiate the user plane or control plane positioning sessionwhen the first subscription has reached a data transfer limit or a limiton a total number of simultaneous data sessions.
 4. The method of claim1, wherein the first subscription and the second subscription havedifferent rules of service interactions, and wherein performing the userplane or control plane positioning session through the networkcomprises: following the rules of service interactions of the firstsubscription when the user plane or control plane positioning session isthrough the first subscription and following the rules of serviceinteractions of the second subscription when the user plane or controlplane positioning session is through the second subscription.
 5. Themethod of claim 1, wherein performing the user plane or control planepositioning session through the network comprises performing an assistedsatellite positioning session using the network.
 6. A mobile terminalcapable of performing a positioning session through a network that isone of a first network or a second network, the mobile terminalcomprising: a first Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card that accessesa first subscription associated with the first network, wherein thefirst subscription is one of a default subscription or a selectedsubscription for a user plane or control plane positioning session; asecond SIM card that accesses a second subscription associated with thesecond network; a transceiver that communicates with the first networkand the second network; a processor connected to the transceiver andconfigured to perform the user plane or control plane positioningsession through the network, wherein when the user plane or controlplane positioning session is initiated by the mobile terminal, eitherthe first subscription associated with the first SIM card or the secondsubscription associated with the second SIM card is used for the userplane or control plane positioning session, wherein the processor isconfigured to perform the user plane or control plane positioningsession through the network by being configured to attempt to initiatethe user plane or control plane positioning session with the firstsubscription; and switch to use the second subscription to initiate theuser plane or control plane positioning session; wherein when the userplane or control plane positioning session is initiated by the network,either the first subscription associated with the first SIM card or thesecond subscription associated with the second SIM card is used for theuser plane or control plane positioning session.
 7. The mobile terminalof claim 6, wherein the second subscription is used to initiate the userplane or control plane positioning session when the first networkassociated with the first subscription is one of unavailable, weak,busy, or unresponsive.
 8. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein thesecond subscription is used to initiate the user plane or control planepositioning session when the first subscription has reached a datatransfer limit or a limit on a total number of simultaneous datasessions.
 9. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the firstsubscription and the second subscription have different rules of serviceinteractions, wherein the processor is further configured to follow therules of service interactions of the first subscription when the userplane or control plane positioning session is through the firstsubscription and follow the rules of service interactions of the secondsubscription when the user plane or control plane positioning session isthrough the second subscription.
 10. The mobile terminal of claim 6,wherein the mobile terminal further comprises a receiver to receivesatellite positioning system signals, wherein the processor isconfigured to perform the user plane or control plane positioningsession through the network by being configured to perform an assistedsatellite positioning session using the network.
 11. A dual SubscriberIdentity Module (SIM) mobile terminal comprising: means for connectingto a network, wherein the network is one of a first network associatedwith a first subscription accessed with a first SIM card or a secondnetwork associated with a second subscription accessed with a second SIMcard, wherein the first subscription is one of a default subscription ora selected subscription for a user plane or control plane positioningsession; and means for performing the user plane or control planepositioning session through the network; wherein when the user plane orcontrol plane positioning session is initiated by the dual SIM mobileterminal, either the first subscription associated with the first SIMcard or the second subscription associated with the second SIM card isused for the user plane or control plane positioning session, whereinthe dual SIM mobile terminal further comprises: means for attempting toinitiate the user plane or control plane positioning session with thedual SIM mobile terminal using the first subscription; and means forswitching to use the second subscription to initiate the user plane orcontrol plane positioning session with the dual SIM mobile terminal;wherein when the user plane or control plane positioning session isinitiated by the network, either the first subscription associated withthe first SIM card or the second subscription associated with the secondSIM card is used for the user plane or control plane positioningsession.
 12. The dual SIM mobile terminal of claim 11, wherein the firstsubscription and the second subscription have different rules of serviceinteractions, the dual SIM mobile terminal further comprising: means forfollowing the rules of service interactions of the first subscriptionwhen the user plane or control plane positioning session is through thefirst subscription and following the rules of service interactions ofthe second subscription when the user plane or control plane positioningsession is through the second subscription.
 13. A non-transitorycomputer-readable medium including program code stored thereon,comprising: program code to connect a dual SIM mobile terminal to anetwork, wherein the network is one of a first network associated with afirst subscription accessed with a first SIM card in the dual SIM mobileterminal or a second network associated with a second subscriptionaccessed with a second SIM card in the dual SIM mobile terminal, whereinthe first subscription is one of a default subscription or a selectedsubscription for a user plane or control plane positioning session; andprogram code to perform the user plane or control plane positioningsession through the network; wherein when the user plane or controlplane positioning session is initiated by the dual SIM mobile terminal,either the first subscription associated with the first SIM card or thesecond subscription associated with the second SIM card is used for theuser plane or control plane positioning session, wherein the programcode to perform the user plane or control plane positioning sessionthrough the network comprises: program code to attempt to initiate theuser plane or control plane positioning session with the dual SIM mobileterminal using the first subscription; and program code to switch to usethe second subscription to initiate the user plane or control planepositioning session with the dual SIM mobile terminal; wherein when theuser plane or control plane positioning session is initiated by thenetwork, either the first subscription associated with the first SIMcard or the second subscription associated with the second SIM card isused for the user plane or control plane positioning session.
 14. Thenon-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 13, wherein the firstsubscription and the second subscription have different rules of serviceinteractions, program code further comprises: program code to follow therules of service interactions of the first subscription when the userplane or control plane positioning session is through the firstsubscription and following the rules of service interactions of thesecond subscription when the user plane or control plane positioningsession is through the second subscription.